the sugarloaf mountain (pão de açúcar) looms large on the skyline over looking rio de janeiro's harbor.

the granite colossus is one of the city's major tourist attractions located at the mouth of guanabara bay, in the neighborhood of urca - the mountain offers both fantastic trekkingand rock climbing opportunities, not to mention breathtaking panoramic views over the tijuca national park, the atlantic ocean, and the city itself.

Having churrasco for lunch in one of the many churrascarias rodízio is a very popular and tasty way of having a gastronomic carioca experience.

churrascarias are a type of rodizio specialized in serving meat - in these restaurants waiters come to the tables and slice different types of meat directly into the customers' plates.  for more information about churrascarias click here.